philosophy, biology and medicine in the ancient world Flashcards
For greek philosophers, science, philosophy and religion were not sharply distinct. however they deserve credit for inventing what?
inventing science (broadly defined) and scientific curiosity
what is science?
Trying to understand nature- its natural (no supernatural entities) (supernatural world is where you have immaterial mental states) natural causes and natural effects (the world in its own terms)
What did these Greek philosophers try to find regarding science, philosophy, and medicine?
tried to find natural causes of thing by reason and observation
swift locical through
why did Greek philosophers discard religious and supernatural explanations of the world, at least in part?
the greek religion had no complete, systematic explination of the world
the greek gods took little interest in the world and its people
the greek gods had human characteristics and faults
priests did not dominate greek civilization
what is known about the milesian school?
very little is known about Thales of miletus, he left no writings and perhaps was illiterate. But some of his views, and the views of Anaximander and anaximenes, were put down in the historical record by Aristotle, who knew of them and who discussed their ideas in his book
what were Thales teaching? (3)
the earth is a disc surrounded on all sides by water
water is the beginning of all things, the fundamental element out of which all else is made
the forces that cause change in matter are consolidation and expansion
according to Thales what were earthquakes?
the water being disturbed around the earth disc
according to thales teachings why were shells in the soil?
shells in the soil meant that the dirt used to be water
because of what the Milesian can lay a claim to have invented science?
their naturalism and their ideas on the unity of matter
Empedocles like Thales had what kind of view of nature?
had materialist and causal view
Empedocles was the originator of what?
four - element model of nature; fire, air, water, and earth composed everthing.
Empedocle believed what about the elements?
He believed that these elements combine and dissociate because of two forces Love (attraction) and Hate (repulsion)
Empedocles biology
what did he thing about our blood?
we think with our blood, beause the four elements are most evenly mingled in our blood
What was Empedocles thoughts about animals evolution?
animals have evolved over time from bizarre ancestors. Originally separate limbs, torsos and heads arose from the earth and then combine at random, by chance, producing animals of different adaptive characteristics. Darwin honoured Empedocies for “shadowing forth the principle of natural selection”
Democritus and Atomism
what did democritus represent?
he represented the peak of the first period of Greek philosophy
What is the peak of the first period of Greek philosophy most noted for?
its interest in the natural world for its own sake. He learned atomism for his teacher Leucippus, and became the foremost ancient atomist and religious skeptic
What is Democriitus’s atomism?
atoms are infinite in number and shape
what were Democritus view of qualities of matter?
qualities of matter derive from the number, size, shape and motion of the atoms of which matter is composed
what were Democritus view of his atomism and biology?
life and the soul are the same thing. The soul consists of fire atoms
(fire atoms in sould and that is what kept us alive)
what was democritus theory on our soul?
fire atoms in the soul, they are what keep us alive but we are always losing them, soul atoms are why we need to keep breathing
What was democritus’s thoughts on sleep, asphyxia and death?
that they were all due to the loss of soul atoms
what did democritus think about sensory perception?
that is is due to the movement of atoms from the perceived object to the perceiver, interaction with soul atoms from the perceiver
what did democrtus think about the brain?
beilieved that is was the organ of thought
what did democrtus think about the heart?
organ of courage
what did democrtus think about the liver?
organ of sensuality
what did democrtus think about religion
beileved that there are no divine beings. impersonal necessity and natural law govern the world, not divine will
*good case that he was an athist**
what were the limitations of the first period of greek natural philosophy?
not experimental just did observations
chemistry did not develop beyond atomic theory
When was Hippocrates alive?
460-361 BC
what were some aspects of early greek medicine?
focused on religion and magical cures
purely secular healers arose who called themselves asclepiads
the life of Hippocrates
born where?
where did he travel to?
where did he practice?
born on Cos to an asclepiad father
traveled to Balkans and Asia Minor
Practiced on Cos in Thessaly
many writing we have of Hippocrates where written by who?
his followers not him. since the sources of the writings are difficult to determine, they are simply called the “Hippocratic collection or Hippocratic Corpus”
what is hippocratic medicine known for?
more enduring for its approach than its content
what was hipporatics thoughts on religion?
he rejected religion and the supernatural in medicine
Hippocratics were suspicious of what?
broad theory
Hippocratics had what?
high ethical standards
what was the Hippocratic method?
observe all, using all your senses- sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste
gather observations without prejudice of theory or expectation
study the patient rather than the disease- age diet, sleeping habits, dreams
evaluate honestly; learn the probable outscomes of illnesses and tell the patient
assist nature to heal the patient
Biological understanding
Hippocratics physiology related to what?
four elements (of empedocles) to four humours (fluids) in the body
what are the empedocles elements?
Fire
air
earth
water
what are the Hippocratics humours?
blood
yellow bile
black bile
phlegm
what are Galen’s temperaments?
Sanguine
Choleric
Melancholic
Phlegmatic
Hippocratics pathology in many cases appealed to what?
an imbalance of humours
what were the thoughts on inheritance?
all parts of the body produced seed material; traits in offspring arise from the mixing of male and female seed material
what were anatomy and physiology based on?
what was the issues?
dissections and vivisections of animals and then extened to people
was illegal at times , hard to find bodies
people were scared of ghosts
what was Pneuma?
(the life giving principle of air)
enters the lung, is taken to the left side of the heart, and is distributed by the arteries to the body to sustain it
what was early Hippocratics view on the brain?
it was a radiator that cools the blood and seperates water and mucus according to the earlier Hippocratics.
was was the later Hippocratics view on the brain?
with influence from democritus, believed that the brain is the center of thought and feeling
Hippocratics treatment
diagnosis was what?
not emphasized; the Hippocratic corpus contains few named diseases
could not expect to be told what you have
what was Hippocratics therapy?
quite gentle treatment
assist nature
what are the two poles of treatment?
gentle and harsh treatments
what did the Hippocratics stress in treatment?
environmental effects
changes in diet
take a bath
used some drugs (laxatives, emetics, narcotics, opium, surgery, blood letting)
Which ancient group of people deserves credit for inventing science and scientific curiosity (in a broad sense)?
The ancient Greek philosophers.
What 3 ideological components are integral to science?
- Natural: understand nature without mystical explanations
- Rational: based on logical argument with verifiable conclusions
- Democratic: all are equal in their ability to understand scientific argument
What 2 main strategies were employed by the ancient Greeks to try and find the natural cause of things?
- Observation
2. Logical reasoning
What is Zeno’s paradox?
A thought experiment involving Achilles and a tortoise showing the early understanding of non-zero time increments and infinite series’.
What 4 facts led ancient Greek philosophers to (partly) discard religious explanations of the world and be open to religious skepticism?
- Greek religion had no complete explanation of the world
- Gods took little interest in the world or in people
- Gods had human characteristics and faults
- Priests didn’t dominate civilization
What 3 figures are linked to the Milesian School? What later philosopher recorded their ideas?
- Thales
- Anaximander
- Anaximenes
Later, Aristotle recorded their ideas in his book.
Where was Thales from? (Hint: it’s in the name of the school he’s associated with)
Miletus (as in the Milesian school).
What were the 3 primary beliefs that Thales held?
- The earth is a disc surrounded by water
- Water is the fundamental element of which all things are composed
- Changes in matter occur by consolidation and expansion
Did Thales have religious beliefs?
It’s thought that he did, but was able to separate them from his scientific understanding.
How did the views of Empedocles mirror those of Thales?
They both had materialistic and causal views of nature.
What elemental belief did Empedocles come up with?
The four-element model of nature involving fire, air, water, and earth.
What did Empedocles believe caused the combination and dissociation of the elements in his 4 element theory?
Love (attraction) and hate (repulsion).
What beliefs did Empedocles hold regarding the origin of animals?
Thought that animal parts arose from the earth and combined randomly. Only the symmetrical and viable ones survived. (kinda the first theory of natural selection)
What did Empedocles believe was the purpose of blood? What was it composed of?
A combination of all of his four elements, he believed humans thought primarily with their blood.
By what title was Democritus known? Who was his teacher?
“The Laughing Philosopher”, taught by Leucippus.
What is Democritus most known for?
His theories of atomism and his religious skepticism.
What did Democritus believe regarding the composition of matter?
All qualities of matter derive from the number, size, and shape of atoms. These atoms are infinite in number and shape. (rejected 4 element theory)
What did Democritus believe about the soul?
Soul and life are the same thing and are composed of “fire atoms”.
What were Democritus’ beliefs regarding respiration?
Soul atoms from the air are breathed in and are necessary to sustain life. These are then given off by the body. Lack of soul atoms = death.
How did Democritus think sensory perception worked?
Due to the movement of atoms from the object to the perceiver. These atoms then interact with the soul atoms of the perceiver.
What did Democritus believe regarding the biological roles of the brain, heart, and liver?
Brain: thought
Heart: courage
Liver: sensuality (lol wut)
What were Democritus’ religious views.
An atheist, he believed that necessity and natural law governed the world, not divine beings.
How did Democritus’ beliefs affect the perception of atomism (and by extension, science)?
Atomic theory became associated with atheism and was considered heretical.
What was a major limitation of the first period of Greek natural philosophy?
It wasn’t experimental, purely observational and speculative.
